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594 C O L L E C T IO N S E R O M T H E ’W E S T E R N I N D I A N O C E A N .
5. Phyllospongia madagascarensis.
Carteriospongia madagascarensis, Hyatt, Mem. Bost. Soc. ii. p. 542.
Extremely variable in external form, viz. from single flexible
cylindrical stems about 2 millim. in diameter to palmate fronds
arising from similar stems, forming large compound growths ; the
cylindrical form also occurs compound ; tbe same colony may show
transitions from the cylindrical to the palmate type. A spirit-specimen
of tbo cylindrical form has a pale brownish-yellow colour, and
its surface is seen under tbe lens to be very m inutely hispid with tbe
projecting euds of the primary fibres. The primary fibres are mostly
somewhat, though slightly, sand-cored near tbe surface (much less
than in C.pennatula) ; they measure about -04 millim. in diameter,
tbe secondaries somewhat less ; fibres very pale yellow in spirit-
specimens, colourless in dry skeletons. Snrface-texture much finer
than in 0. pennatula ; surface never broken up into tbe ndges and
grooves wbicb distinguish macerated specimens of th a t species.
Vents slightly projecting, and sparsely distributed up and down tbe
cylindrical axes ; abundant, not projecting, on one side of the palmate
fronds, diameter about '7 millim. Consistence in all cases
very soft aud flexible in the macerated state. Owing to the unbroken
character of the surface, tbis species is best placed under Pliyllo-
spongia. I am indebted to Dr. Polejaeff for pointing out the
importance of tbis character in Phyllospongia.
Hab. Amirante Islands, beach and 17 fms.
Distribution. Madagascar (Hyatt).
Pbyllospongia madagascarensis, var. supraocnlata, nov.
( P l a t e L III. figs. M, M'.)
Some specimens of firm texture, not readily compressible, v ith
very smooth dense surface ; form simple palmate, much and deeply
divided or multicaulate ; sometimes partly cylindrical. Vents very
small, viz. about -4 millim. iu diameter, on one side of tbe frond and
also on its free margin. Meshes of skeleton very close (i. / primaries
only -1 millim. apart a t surface) ; sand-cores of primary
fibres extending a very short distance below tbe surface.^ Colour,
in dry state (well preserved specimens), cream to pure white.
Several small specimens, the greatest height and lateral expansion
being about 70 millim. ( 2 | inches). _ t i ^ a •
Hal. Providence Island, Mascarene group ; African Island, Amirante
group, beach.
CARTERISPONGIA.
Carteriospmgia, Hyatt, Mem. Bost. Soc. ii. p. 640.
Mauricea, Carter^ Ann, ^ Mag. N. H. 1877, xx. p. 174.
Curiously enough, these two generic terms were published within
four months of each oiFer (Carteriospongia, May, Mauricea,
tember, 1877). As, however, the former, besides having this slight
S P O N G I I D A . 595
priority, is accompanied by a diagnosis, while tbe characters of tbe
latte r are merely hinted at, I believe tbe right course is to adopt
tbe former.
6. Carterispongia otahitica.
Spongia otahitica, Esper, Pflanzenth. Eortsetz, i. p. 209, pi. Ixi.
figs. 7, 8.
A flahelliform and two cup-sbaped, internaUy proliferating specimens.
The former exhibits signs of incipient formation of a cup,
and thus shows Esper to bave been right in uniting tbe two outwardly
different forms under one bead. Two simple cup-shaped
specimens and an irregularly grown proliferating flahelliform one
also occur.
Hab. Glorioso Islands, beach and between tide-marks ; Amirante
Islands, beach ; Seychelle Islands, 7 fms.
Distrihution. See P a rt I. of tbis Peport, p. 386.
'• 7I .• CV/C4a/Xr WteXr Xis»^pVo-Un.ggXiUaJ mxxxacxnxxtuevxlxlxi«.
Halispongia mantelli, Bowerhank, P. Z. S. 1874, p. 303, pi. xlvii.
figs. 3, 4.
A small but deep regularly cup-shaped specimen, gross height
45 millim., th at of cup 35 millim., diameter of cup at margin
32 millim. The outside is marked by faint longitudinal ridges ; on
tbe inner surface tbe vents, about -5 millim. in diameter, are arranged
in approximately concentric series round tbe cup, a t intervals of
3 -4 millim. Bowerbank’s description of tbe vents is unsatisfactory.
Tbe skeleton contains mucb less sand than Bowerbank’s specimen,
bnt agrees with it in tbe general characters of tbe skeleton, tbe
differences being to some extent due to age. As stated in tbe
Peport OD the Australian collections, tbis species agrees essontiaUy
with tbe characters of Carterispongia. Tbe colour (in spirit) is
greyish brown outside, dirty white inside.
Hah. Mozambique, between tide-marks.
Distrihution. “ South Seas ” (Bowerhank).
8. Carterispongia pennatula.
Spongia pennatula, Lamarck, Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. xx. p. 440.
Tbis species varies in outward form from contort flahellate, witb
single thick stem, to compound, multicaulate, anastomosing, with
thin stems, tbe terminal fronds narrower or broader fiabelliform.
In mucb-wasbed specimens the surface has an eroded appearance,
from the exposure of the ramifications of the canal-system, and such
specimens are usually of a pale brownish-yellow colour; wben the
sarcode is preserved, tbe surface of dry specimens is white, and
2 q 2
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